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Epicurious
Gourmet

Steamed Sticky Rice (Kao Niaow)

5.0

(4)

Sticky rice is the main event at the northern Thai table. Small bites of each dish are put on the diner's plate, then a walnut-size amount of rice is formed into a ball with your fingers and used to pick up a chunk of meat or vegetable. Individual handwoven baskets will keep the rice warm longer, but a large bowl also works fine.

Active time: 10 min Start to finish: 3 1/2 hr (includes soaking rice)

Cooks' notes:

• Rice can be soaked up to 12 hours. • Thai cooks use a large conical steamer basket for steaming the rice, but we found that a footed colander or the steamer insert of a pasta pot also works well. Thai sticky rice is available at Amazon, Snuk, or at Thai markets.

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